Local resistance to modern art was more deeply entrenched than commonly believed. When the Art Gallery of Western Australia purchased Robert Klippel’s ‘junk sculpture’ Opus no. 197 metal construction 1965 it caused public
outrage. The original work is too fragile to travel, however, The Tower, Opus no. 157 1963 from the National Gallery of Australia collection has a similar spidery presence with delicate strands of metal carving thin lines in space.